Sun Belt notebook: Part I

By Drew Champlin

Published: July 25, 2008

NEW ORLEANS — Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill isn’t one to make excuses, despite the fact that 49 of his 75 scholarship players this fall will be freshmen and sophomores.

“What we are is what we are,” Stockstill said. “That’s where you see the (APR) penalties hurt us.”

The Academic Progress Rate (APR) penalties hurt when Stockstill took over in 2006, as the previous staff had several players that didn’t make their grades. MTSU lost 13 scholarships in two years, but can now sign a full class of 25, though it will be at least 10 short of the NCAA-allowed 85 scholarship players.

That’s what Troy will face in the season opener, as MTSU hosts Troy Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m. It’s the third straight year that MTSU has opened its season with a conference foe. In a one-bowl league, losing the opener can really set a team back.

“I’d like to be playing a non-conference game just because we are so young,” Stockstill said. “You’ve got to be ready early and come out of the gates with not a whole lot of margin for error.”

Both senior Joe Craddock and sophomore Dwight Dasher started six games last year due to injuries by both, and both even played in gimmick roles when both were healthy.

Stockstill doesn’t want that to happen this year, though both were effective last year.

“I’m hoping one will separate themselves in the first 10 days (of fall practice),” Stockstill said. “I don’t want to be a two-quarterback team.”

Stockstill doesn’t anticipating starting any true freshman, but said junior college transfer Eldred King will play a lot at wide receiver.

Cajuns overhauling offense: The names are the same, but the leadership is different. Quarterback Michael Desormeaux ran for more than 1,000 yards last year and led the league in yards per game (123.2). Running back Tyrell Fenroy has been one of the best backs in the conference his entire career. He needs just
779 yards to break the league’s all-time record.

Desormeaux threw for 1405 yards last year, but had as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns. He’s specialized in short routes, but head coach Rickey Bustle hopes that will change. Ron Hutson was promoted to offensive coordinator, but Jorge Munoz was hired as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He’ll also call plays.

“I like going deep,” Bustle said. “Mike throws the ball better than people give him credit for, but he can certainly run as well.”

ULL also has a new look to Cajun Field, as field turf has replaced the natural grass.

“Surely it helps in recruiting,” Bustle said. “It makes us faster, but it makes the other teams faster as well.”

Changing: Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts has to stop and think at speaking engagements. ASU is no longer the Indians, but now the Red Wolves, since the NCAA forced a name change.

“If there is to be a change, that would be a good one to change it to,” Roberts said. “It’s an animal native to our area and there’s a lot of things you can do with marketing possibilities.”

One thing that Roberts is hoping will change is the health of star juniors Corey Leonard (quarterback) and Reggie Arnold (running back).

Both were banged up for much of last year and both had offseason surgery (Leonard — shoulder, Arnold — ankle) and both should be ready this fall.

“We were really playing well offensively in our first five games,” Roberts said. “Once (Leonard)’s health deteriorated, we didn’t play quite as well. Then, Reggie missed a couple of games. Obviously, those two are quite a tandem.”

FIU looking for improvement: There’s nowhere to go but up after a two-year stretch of one win and 23 losses, but second-year head coach Mario Cristobal can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“This team has made a tremendous jump both physically and mentally this offseason,” Cristobal said. “The intensity of this team has risen and we are stronger and faster than we have ever been. I expect a lot of this football team and believe we can have a very successful year.”

Sophomore Wayne Younger started most of the year at quarterback, but he threw 17 interceptions to just nine touchdowns.

He’ll be in a battle with junior Paul McCall, who threw for 228 yards in his only start of the year against North Texas — FIU’s lone win of the year. McCall threw five touchdowns last year to just one interception.

FIU will open its new stadium Sept. 20 against South Florida. It seats 18,000, but additional phases of construction will bring seating to 45,000.